Automatic despatching and selective delivery apparatus.



v c. P. HIDDEN. AUTOMATIC DESPATCHING AND SELECTIVE DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F-ILED MAR. 11. 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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C. P. HIDDEN. AUTOMATIC DESPATCHING AND SELECTIVE DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F ILED MAR. 17. m5.

1,203,736. Ptented Nov. 7,1916.

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c. P. HIDDEN.

AUTOMATIC DE-SPATCHING AND SELECTIVE DELIVERY APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I], 1915- 1203573 6. Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. n. 1915. I

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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CHARLES P. HIDDEN, or BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS, nssicnon To THE LAMSDN' COMPANY, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC DESPATCHING AND SELECTIVE DELIVERY APPARATUS.

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Specification of Letters Patent. I Pafentgd NQV' "Z 1916 Application filed March 17, 1915. Serial No. 15,038.

b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. HIDDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Automatic Despatching and Selective Delivery Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic despatching and selective delivery apparatus and more particularly to What are known as cable pick-up systems.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of serving a large number of stations and preferably in such a manner that intercommunication between said stations shall be possible.

I-Ieretofore, by reason of mechanical complioa-tions it has been found very diflicult to provide a selective pick-up apparatus which would be capable of serving any considerable number of stations; and indeed in practice the number of stations has usually been limited to between 5 and 10. When, further, the matter was complicated by the attempt to provide for intercommunication between these stations, with the limitations of known apparatus, the number of such intercommunicating stations could not practicably exceed 8, 4 or 5. I have found that by slightly modifying known apparatus and by adding certain elements thereto, it becomes possible to serve any desired number of stations even up to, for example, 100.-

In addition to this, these stations can be caused to intercommunicate with each other.

Another and subsidiary object of my invention has been to avoid any excessively large number of graduations in such apparatus, whereby selective delivery of articles may be attained, by providing certain mechanisms and elements each with a limited number of graduations, but which elements are causedto coact with each other to the end that combinations of these graduations may be caused to serve a very much larger number of stations, and this, with a comparatively small number of movable elements.

I have further aimed .to make the apparatus preferably, although not necessarily, mechanical in character to avoid complicated electrical wiring and other objections out the several views, I have exemplified two preferred forms of my invention; but asI am aware of various changes and modifications which may be made herein without departing from, the spirit of the invention, I desire to be limited only by the scope of said claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a cable operated pick-up system; the extended lines being for convenience, broken into three sections.

Fig. 2-is an elevation of the apparatus at one of the stations. v 3 is a section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2; the parts being drawn to a reduced scale. Fig. at is a similar section taken on line IV-IV; the parts being, however, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a detail'section taken on line VV of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on line VIVI--VI of Fig. 4-. plan view of the apparatus shown in F ig. 6. Fig. 8 is a' section taken in correspond ence with that shown in Fig. i, but of a modified form of construction. Fig. 9 is a portion of F12.

detail elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 8; said parts being viewed from the line IXIX in the latter figure; andFig.

Fig. 7 is a 10 is a section taken on the line IQ-X of Fig. 8.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and lthe prebest shown in Fig. 7 the cable sections are 7 attached. The cable has been broadly designated 5 and may be driven by suitable pulleys 6, as diagrainmatically indicated in Fig. 1 where portions of the cable are shown disposed around the said pulleys 1f the line be a very long one it may be found Convenient to drive the cable from a plurality of points therein, as for example, by

positively driving both of the pulleys 6.

Concerning, now, adescription of the car and its pick-up devices, the car or carrier may have secured to one side thereof a yoke or base plate, 7 which carries a shaft 8 loosely j ournaled in the arms of yoke. As shown in Figs. (3, and 7, this shaft carries fixedly mounted thereon two arms 9, between which extends a pin or shaft 10, upon whichv are journaled two elements designated 11 and 12. The element 11 is journaled upon the right hand half of the pin 10, as viewed in Fig. 6, and has outwardly projecting therefrom a finger 13, the extremity of which normally extends up between the central portions of the mo able jaw 1% of the articleclamp hereinafter more fully des ri ed. v hen the arm or finger 13 is depressed by reason of the presence of papers or other articles between the I said movable jaw 14 and a fixed jaw 15 disposed thereabove, it causes a counter-clotswise rotation of the element 11, as viewed in Y Fig. e through the instrumentality of a spring connection which is providedbetween this said element and the finger; the spring connecting these parts being designated 16. An abutment 17 is provided upon one side of the finger 13, which serves as a stop to limit this counter-clockwise movement of said element 11, lug 18'upon the part ,11 normally bearing against the abut- .ment 1?.

Upwardly proj ec is an actuating ar which is beveled for operatiye'engagement with a lug 20 upon the side ofa crank arm 21. This latter is piyotally'mounted upon the shaft 8 and is normally held the'position in which it is shown in full lines in ing from. the element 11 n 19, the upper end of l, by a spring 22, one end of which engages the yoke 7, as shown in Fig. 4c, and

' the" other end of which engages pin, 23,

upon said arm 21. The arm 21. is provided with a stop which is normally'held in engagement with yoke 7, by the sprlng 2E2.

lVhenever, therefore, the crank arm 21 is caused to rotate counter-clockwise by reason of its engagement withthe cams hereinafter 'referred'to, lfnO article be disposed between i the jaws it and 15, the finger 13 will be in its full line position, in which it is shown in r Fig. i, so that the lug 20 will first strike the end ofthe operating arm 19 and thereafter will rotate said arm downwardly, which action effects the counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft 8. On the other hand, if an article be in place between the jaws 14 and 15, thefinger 13 willbe depressed to its of the dotted line position, which will normally hold the arm 19 in a position designated 19, in Fig, 4. lVhen this arm is thus disposed the crank arm 21 may be rotated in the nanner abo've'described without any useful result. In other words, at such time the lug 20 is able to clear the arm 19, and hence merely moves idly downward.

The jaws 14: and 15 are normally held closed, by means of a spring 25, which like the spring 22, has one end thereof in engagement with the yoke 7, while its other end bears against a pin 26 mounted upon a has to close the lower jaw which may be burdened with a relatively heavy package.

Referring more particularly now to Figs. and 7,'it will be observed that the frame 27 is provided with an extensionupon the righthand side thereof, from which extends upwardly a bracket 28, upon the upper end of which is a laterally directed lug 28 having thereinan aperture to fit a rod 29. llhis latter is preferably square in cross section, to prevent rotation thereof; but said rod is freely movable through the said aperture and through correspondingly shaped opening in the fr-aniie extension at the base upright 28. The rod 29 may have a collar thereon, against which a spring 30 bears; the'upper end of this springpressing against the part 28 above referred to. 'Sprmg 30 tends to move the rod 29 to its 7 0 )art the 'righthand surface of which, as viewed in Fig. 6, has the edges thereof rounded. "The dog is pivoted upon a pin 87 and a light spring 38, one end of which is connected to a pin 89, which projects from Moss or lug upon the hub of the dog 85, tends to. rotate the dog counter-clockwise, since theother endof the spring 88 is correspondingly attached to a lug 4E1, which pro ects upwardly from the frame 2'2. The

spring 38 can, however so move the dog 35 only when the pinget has beenmoved down- -wardl 7 )ast the lower extremit of the do The dog when thus released, can only rotate a limited distance, before the lug 4E0 en- 35 is providedwith an ofiset or lifting a stop or lug 41, which may conveniently form an extension of the lug 41 previously referred to. The pin 37 also carries a rocker-arm42, and the hub 42 of this arm and the hub of the dog 35, may be connected together by means of a flat spring 43, the ends of which may be fastened in slit pins which project from the respective hubs. This spring is initially bent so that it tends to hold the arm in the position in which it is shown, in Fig. 6, when the dog 35 is held out of its normal position by the pin 34 in the manner indicated. When the dog 35 is held out of its normal position by the pin 84, clockwise rotation of the rocker-arm 42 by means of the spring 43, is limited by the engagement of a lug 44, which extends upwardly from the base of the rocker-arm 42, as viewed in Fig. 7, and is thereby adapted for engagement with a lug 45, which projects laterally from the hub of the dog 35. By reason of this engagement of the lugs 44 and when the dog 35 is free from the pin 34, and is rotated counter-clockwise by means of spring 88, the notched extremity 42 of the arm 42 is moved into alinement with the somewhat tooth-shaped end of an operating arm 46. This latter is fixedly mounted upon the right-hand extremity of the shaft 8, so that when this shaft is rocked and provided that the pin 34 be not in engagement with the dog 35, the end of the arm 46 will be seated in the recessed end 42; so that as viewed in Fig. 4, the arm 42 will be rotated counter-clocl-zwise. This, of course, will depress the lower or movable jaw 14, and, depending upon the angular rotation of the arm 21, this aw will be moved down either into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, which has been designated 14, or into that designated 14". To effect any downward movement of the jaw 14, however, the pin 34 must be in its lowermost position, and furthermore, the end of the operating arm 19 must be in alinement with the lug 20. It therefore follows that when the car or carrier is loaded, in which case the finger 13 thereof is depressed, said jaw would never be actuated by its arm 21 unless some provision were made for moving the arm 19 into alinement with the lug 20, despite this depression of the finger 13. ft is for this reason that the element 11 is made separate from this finger and is connected therewith by the spring 16.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that there is a finger 47, which, when the element 11 is in' its dotted line position, is adapted for engagement with and to be depressed by yieldingly mounted ca 48. This cam 'is mounted upon the extremity of a pin 49 journaled in a bracket 50 which is preferably attached to the lower of the track rails l. A spring 51 normally holds the cam 48 in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, a suitable stop 52 being mounted upon the inner extremity of the pin 49 and.

to Figs 6 and 7, as therein shown the rod 29 is provided with teeth upon one side thereof. In this embodiment of my invention, these teeth are of two kinds and in two series, the upper being designated 56, and .the lower teeth 57. Mounted upon the upright 28 is an escapement pawl 58, the pintle of which has been designated 59. This pawl is provided with an arm 60, which maybe offset therefrom, and the free end of this arm has a pin and slot connection with a rod 60. This latter is mounted for longitudinal movement in a boss 61, which forms a part ofthe frame 27. The lower extremity of the rod 60 is preferably provided with a round head 60,

to adapt it for sliding engagement with a cam 62. In the form of my invention now being described, I prefer to dispose one of these cams 62 at the entrance to each of the groups of stations disposed along the line. In the present apparatus, there are five stations to a group, so that every. fifth station will have at some short distance thereafter one of these cams 62. These cams may be conveniently suspended from the track or may be otherwise mounted. When, therefore, a given carrier has passed the last station of any group of, let us say, five stations, the head of the pin 60 rides up upon one of the earns 62, and thereby rocks the escapement pawl. 58. Assuming that the rod, 29 of the carrier has been elevated to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 6, this movement of the pawl 58 will project its upper end under the lowermost tooth 56, .while at the same time releasing the lowermost tooth 57 from the hooklike lower extremity of the pawl. This permits the rod 29 to drop approximately a half step; the spring 30 coacting therewith to effect this movement As soon as the pin 60 rides off from its cam, a spring 63 upon the pintle 59 of the pawl rotates the pawl counter-clockwise to free thelower tooth 56, but at the same time to bring the pawl hook into engagement with the middle tooth 57; there being but three teeth 57 used in the present construction, the total number of stations in which is fifteen. For one actuationof the pin 60, the rod 29 vis thus caused. to move down one step. Correspondingly each successive actuation of the pin 60 by a cam 62 will cause the rod 29 to nated' 14,

latched up, or in other words until the stop 31 has moved down into engagement with the frame. At this time, and only at'this time, will the dog 35 be free to rotate counter-clockwise in the manner above described, whereby to bring the arm 42 into alinement or registration with the arm 46.

A description of the cams which actuate the crank arms 21 of the carriers is now in order, and for convenience of description I shall hereinafter refer to these cams as jawopening or track cams. If five stations are to be providedto a group, then there will be five of these track cams and there will preferably be five carriers in a given set of the same, each of which carriers will be provided with an operating arm 21 of a different length from the corresponding arm of the carriers of the same set. Thus, the first carrier of the set may be provided with an arm'2l adapted for engagement with the innermost track cam, 64:; the next carrier will be provided with an arm 21 adapted for engagement with the cam 65, the next with an arm to engage the cam 66, the next to engage the cam 67, while the last carrier in the set will have an arm 21 adapted for engagement with the uppermost cam 68. These cams are so formed as to give substantially the same angular displacement to each'of the arms 21 of the carriers for any given operavtion, and for reasons hereinafter set forth, are so bent'as to cause the aws 14: of the carrier to successively occupy the posltions -.designated 14. and 14". The reason for this step-like formation of the jaw-opening or track cams will become apparent upon an inspection of Fig. 2, in view of thefollow- 111g. 7

As above stated, there is at each station a receiving pan 54; and as the carrier in a given set, which corresponds to the station,

' approaches the same, the roller 69 mounted in the extremity of its operating arm 21,

rides up upon the track cam corresponding to said arm, and, providing that the dog 35 of said carrier occupies its normal position in which it clears the pin 34 corresponding thereto, the movable jaw 1a of said carrier will be opened to its first position, desigthe carrier be loaded, because the resiliently mounted cam 48, adjacent to the receiving pan, will engage the finger a7 of the element 11 and will depress the same, in the manner above described, to swing the arm '19 in below the lug -20. 'This loaded carrier will hence discharge into the pan 54, which will receive any articles dropped therefrom, after whichthe roller 69 will pass on to the second step of the cam, whereby to move the jaw 14 to its position designated 14: It

will b understood, of course, that but one of the track cams 64, 65, etc., need be ex- This will be the case even though tended out beyond its companion cams, over the receiving pan of any given station; since but one carrier in a set of the same is to discharge at but one receiving pan in a group of stations. that shown in Fig. 2, the cam designated will be correspondingly prolonged or extended over the receiving pan; while at the next station the cam 66 will be thus prolonged, etc. The prolongation of these cams has been diagrammatically represented in Fig. l.

l Vhen the movable jaw of a carrier occupies its lowermost position, 14, its rod 29, which at such time will always be disposed in its lowermost (non-rotated) position, designated 29 in Fig. l, will be swung around into the position designated 29 in said figure. As the carrier advances in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 2,

' the rounded end 33 of the head at the lower extremity of the rod 29 will ride up upon the sloplng surface of a rotatively mounted cam 70, unless this cam occupies the post tion which it. normally should occupy, in

which CitSG'thG face, 71 thereof will be presented to the'knob or end 33 of the rod 29.

The surface 71 extends in parallelism with wardly, one, two or three steps, as the case may be. In other words, if the cam be rotated so as to present surface 72 to the knob 33, the rod 29 will be moved out suf- .ficiently to enable the hook of the pawl 53 to latch in under the first or uppermost of the teeth 57; Surface 73 will displace the rod 29 sufficiently to cause the hooked end of the pawl to engage the second or intermediate one of these teeth; while surface -1L will bring the lowermost tooth 57 into engagement with thepawl, whereby to latch the rod 29 .in its uppermost position. Before the rod 29 is thus thrust outwardly, however, the dog 35, corresponding thereto, is rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, by the engagement of the extension or arm 36 of this dog, with a cam or rail 71, which swings the dog 35 out of the path of movcment of the pin 3 f against the action of spring 43, which flexes because the arm 42 the full length of the cam 70, since oncethe extremity cra pin 34; has moved upwardly past the lower edgeof the" dog, the latter of At the station next succeeding 1 course cannot interfere with the continued upward movement of said pin.

The cam 70 is provided with a spring 72, preferably positioned in a recess in one end of the cam, and this spring tends to rotate the cam into its normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Counter-clockwise rotation of the cam 70 by its spring, as viewed in Fig. 5, is limited, however, by a stop lug 7 3, upon one end of the cam, which is adapted for engagement with a lug. 7 4', upon the bracket 75, in which is journaled the shaft 76, upon which the cam 70 is keyed or otherwise fixedly mounted. As shown in Fig. 2, the righthand end of this shaft may be journaled in a bracket 77, which also may con veniently carry the cam 71, above referred to. The shaft 76 is prolonged through the bracket 7 5 and is further journaled in a bracket 77. Upon its left-hand end is fixedly mounted a beveled gear 78, which is in mesh with a preferably similar gear 79, mounted upon the inner extremity of a shaft 80. Thislatter may also be journaled in suitable extensions provided upon the bracket 77 and may have upon the outer extremity thereof a handle 81, by means of which the cam 7 0 may be set. This handle is provided with a pointer 82 and a dial 83 bearing suitable characters, such for example as-A, B, C and D, which dial may be fastened to the outer end of the bracket 77. When the pointer 82 is turned to the character A, for example, upon the dial, the cam is set in its normal position in which the surface 71 is presented to the knob 33 of the rod 29, when the latter has been moved to its position designated 29", in

Fig. 1. Correspondingly, when the pointer is directed to the letter B, the surface 72 is opposed to the knob 33; while if the pointer be set at C, the surface 73 will be operatively positioned; and correspondingly the letter I) will pertain to the surface 74;.

A ratchet wheel 84 mounted upon the shaft 76, coacts with a pawl 85 pivotally mounted upon an extension 75 of the bracket 7 5, to hold the cam 70 in any given position in which it may be disposed. A spring 86 normally holds this pawl in engagement with its ratchet with sufliclent force to prevent inadvertent displacement of the cam 7 O, by its spring; but I prefer to V so form the teeth of the ratchet as to permit the operator to rotate the handle 81 against the action of the pawl, to permit of a correct setting of the cam 70, should he find that he has turned the handle. 81 too far.

The pawl 85 is provided with a releasing arm 87, one surface of which is preferably rounded, as at 87, to adapt it for engagement with a finger 88, best shown in Fig. l, to the end that the passing carrier, whose rod has been set by a given cam 70 may thereafter be caused to release the ratchet 84 to permit the spring 72 of said cam to return the latter to its normal position. It will thus be seen that the carrier first deposits its load at the station, its movable jaw 14 being moved to its first position by the first offset 6%, encountered in the cam 64; and that said jaw is further opened by the second offset 64 in order to bring the extension or wing 36 of the dog into engagement with the raillike cam 71, and the knob 38 of the rod 29 of said carrier, into engagement with the cam 70, if the latter be out of its normal position. Furthermore, after having thus had its rod 29 set up a determined distance in correspondence with the adjustment of the pointer 82, this rod-setting mechanism is then automatically reset to its initial or normal position by the passing carrier. The roller 69 of this carrier thereafter traverses a third bend 64:0 in the cam which actuates its arm 21', so that the movable jaw resumes its position 14, which permits it to clear the despatching 321-11 or shelves of which, if the system be an intercommunicating one, there are as many as there are stations in a group. These pans are best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and maybe of a type now commonly in use. They may be conveniently connected to brackets, such as that designated 77 and comprise shelflike parts 89, upon which may repose the articles to be despatched, these parts being apertured as at 89 to permit the movable jaw of a carrier to rise therethrough at the points designated a, 7), etc. In an intercommunicating system, each of these despatching pans is provided with a carrier setting cam 70, an operating handle therefor, a dog setting cam 71, etc. The final bend in the cam which operates the arm :21 of the carrier, which permits this arm to resume its normal position, in which its stop 24 comes to rest against the yoke 7, has been designated 640, and of course this cam need extend but a very short distance beyond this bend; since a carrier will have picked. up any load from the pan corresponding thereto, 6. g. the pan a, and the movablejaw 14 of this carrier will thereafter ride along above the remaining despatching pans at thestation.

For convenience of description I ha designated the groups of stations in the eX- emplified system as A, B and C, and as a further aid in describing the system, the individual stations in. any given group have respectively been designated A, B, C, D, and E. It follows, therefore, from the above description that a given carrier in a set, which deposits its load normally at the station A, shown in Fig. 2, will thereafter have its rod 29 adjusted in accordance with the setting of the handle 81, will automatically cause this latter element and its associated parts to be restored to their initial positions, and finally will pick up from the pan a any package or papers which may have been placed therein. Correspondingly at this station A, which may be any one of the stations A in the several groups, a,

carrier which delivers its load to any de termined one of the receiving pans 54 at any one of the stations B, will pick up its load or in other words is allowed to continue to point tothe letter A, the first carrier which deposits at stations B, which passes this pan Z), will deposit the load which it has picked up at the said pan 6, at the receiving pan 54, of the next station 13 which it encounters. Thus, if for example, this package be despatched from pan 5 of station A in group C, said package will be deposited in the pan 54 of station B in said group. If, on the other hand, it is desired to despatch a parcel from the station E in the group C to a station A in the same group, it is necessary not only to place the parcel in the pan a of said station E; but further to adjust the handle 81 at this station so that its pointer will be directed toward the letter D upon the. corresponding dial 83.

The first unloaded carrier, corresponding to the station A, which passed the pan (it of the station E in group C, will then have its rod .29 pressed all the way up by the setting cam 70, at the despatching station; the carrier will then restore this setting cam to its normal position; will pick up the 'load from the pan a, pass over the pans b,

0, (Z and e and turning around the upper driving pulley 6, it will, in the exemplified system, pass down the entire length of the idle or stationless side of the track to the lower pulley 6, about which it would be drawn; to travel thereafter past all of the stations in group A and also those in group B, until it encountered the station A 'or group C. Just before this carrier passed around the first pulley 6, however, it will be observed that its pin (50 was engaged and actuated by one of the ra1l-l1ke cams 62 This efiected a downward movement of its red 29, one step. Again, as the carrier passed from group A to group B second of these cams 62 was encountered,"and again the rod 29 of the carrier was caused to move downwardly a single step. Thus far, however, the pin 34. had not been caused to clear the dog 35, so that no matter how many times the arm 21 of the carrier was actuated by cams 64 disposed along the track, the movable jaw 14 of the carrier would still remain closed. As the carrier passed from group B to group G, however, the third cam 62 was encountered and the rod 29 again moved down one step; this time to its normal or bottommost position, freeing its dog 35 from the pin 34. The arm 42 thereupon became alined or in registration with the arm 46, so that the next time that the crank arm 21 was operated, which was at the station A in group C, the lower jaw of the carrier moved downwardly to deposit the load therefrom into the receptacle or pan 54 at said station.

I particularly desire to call attention to the fact that while the lower jaw of every unloaded carrier is at every station moved first to the position 14 in order to clear the despatching shelves, and is thereafter moved still farther down to position 14 in order to set the rod 29 of said carrier and thereafter release the setting'mechanism-if the latter has been adjusted out of its position A, no loaded carrier will so operate,

since its jaw does not move downwardly, until it has deposited its load at the station for which this load is destined. This is due to the fact that although there is a complete set of track cams at each station, one or another of which will actuate the arm 21 of everypassing carrier whereby to pick up loads from the stations from the respective despatching pans thereof, this arm 21 will move idly upon the shaft 8 of its carrier if the latter be loaded, except when the carrier passes a station in any group, corresponding thereto, when there is an engagement of the member 48 of this station 'with finger 47 of the carrier just prior to i'" the riding upof'the carrier roller 69 upon the first offset or step in the track cam which extends out over the receiving'pan 54 of this station. This causes arm 19 of the carrier to be'eng'aged and locked with the lug 20 of its '5 arcuately formed, upon its upper surface,

about the axis of shaft 8,.to allow it to slip, transversely across and beneath the member 48 without disturbing the latter and is only sufiiciently long to permit the lug 20 to move down into' its locked engagement with f arm'19, after which the finger 47 slips olf from the member 48. The shaft Swill thus "be rocked but its movement also will be an idle one if the arm 42 of thecarrier be not opposite the arm 46 upon the end of the iii? its lowermost position when the carrier is within the confines of the group of stations in which it is to discharge; the confines of the groups being determined, of course, by the rail-cams 62.

In general, therefore, it may be stated that in order to accomplish the despatch of an article from any one of the first four stations, in any given group (such for example as that designated C), to any station in the same group, but ahead of the station from which the article is dcspatched, it is merely necessary to place the article in the despatching pan 5, c, d, or e at such' despatching station, and to leave the handle 81 in the position which it normally occupies, with its pointer directed toward the letter A. Thereafter, the first carrier which has an arm 21 adapted for engagement with the track cam having a bend or offset 640, 650, or the like, which will permit the spring 25 of such carrier to swing its movable jaw up through the aperture 89 of the pan in which reposes the article to be despatched, will thus collect or pick up said article and the latter in turn will depress the tinge 13 of said carrier, whereby to move the arm 19 out of registration or alinement with the lug 20, to prevent the discharge of the article until the carrier reaches the station in this group having a corresponding track cam projecting out over its receiving pan 5%, whereupon the arm 19 will be moved back to its normal position by the member 18 at this latter station, and as the roller 69 of the carrier rides up upon the first offset in this projecting track cam 65, 66, etc., as the case may be, said movable jaw will be moved to its first position 1% to unload the carrier. If the article is to be despatched from some given station in one of the groups, such for example as that designated B, to one of thestations in the next group, then the article is placed in the proper pan, corresponding to the station in the group at which delivery is to be made,

and the pointer 82 is turned to letter B.

at the despatching pan is turned 'to letter C,

whicn will cause a setting of the rod 29 of the proper carrier such that the carrier will have to pass over two of the cams 62 before its arm 42 will again be in registration or alinoment with its arm 46. Finally, if, for

example, it be desired to despatch from station E, in group C, to station A in the same group, the article will be placed in pan a at station E and the pointer corresponding to this pan willbe set at D. This carrier will then have to pass three of the cams 2, thereby nearly completing a circuit, after which it will be ready to discharge into the receiving pan at station A of group C. is further to be noted that any setting cam 70, after having once been adjusted to its position B, C or D, will not be disturbed or unset by a passing carrier, except when said carrier is unloaded and is one, moreover, which picks up from the pan to which that particular setting cam pertains. Still further, any loaded carrier after having had its roc 29 properly set or adjusted, cannot have this setting disturbed by inadvertent engagement with a cam 70, since the rod of said carrier will not dip down toward any one of these cams so long as the carrier be loaded.

It will be perfectly obvious, of course, that the cam 70 can be given various shapes, in order to provide for different numbers of stations; and it will also be at once apparent, to those skilled in th art, that various mechanisms may be substituted for the rod 29 and its associated parts, and in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I have exemplified such a mecha nism. Herein the rod 29 is replaced by a spindle 90 which is mounted in the frame 27 and its bracket-like extension 28, not only for longitudinal movement, but also for rotation. This spindle carries pinned thereto a worm 91 adapted for engagement with a split nut 92, resiliently carried by springs 93. One of these springs may be conveniently attached by screws 91, tension 28, while the free ends of the springs are respectively attached to the separate ialves of the split nut 92. The extension 28 may be recessed upon either side of the rod for the reception of strips 93' of yielding material such as rubber, felt, or the like; so as to permit the screws 9 1 to be screwed in or out, as desired, to give the required tension to the flat springs 93.

The upper face 0':- the screw thread upon the worm is preferably disposed at an angle which is more acute, with respect to the axis of the spindle 90, than is the slope of the under sideof this thread. This facilitates upward movement of the worm into and through its split nut when pressure is exerted upon the knob 33, at the lower end of the spindle, by one of the cams 70, above described. Upon the spindle, above the knob 33, is a small frame 95, shown in plan in Fig. 10. This frame is recessed upon its lower side, as at 95, for the reception of a ratchet wheel 96, which may be keyed to the spindle 90; and an upwardly and laterally directed extension of the frame 95 carries 9- to the ex- '40 of these pins. The latter may be convenframe 95 occupy their uppermost position.

Upon the upper side of the frame 95 and pivotally connected thereto at 100, is a pawl arm 101, which is normally held back against its stop 102, which may be a lug upon the frame 95', by means of a spring 103, one end of which may be attached to a pin 10%, in the pawl arm, and the other end of which may be attached, as at 105, to the frame 95. At the lower end of the pin 104 there is a pawl 106, which is normally pressed into engagement with the ratchet 96, by means of a spring 107. The pawl-arm 101 may be ofis et as at 101 to adapt it for engagement with a series of pins disposed along the track; one of these pins being shown in n ig. 8, and being there designated 108. *When the spindle is in its lowermost position with the jaw 14 of the carrier closed, the When, how-' cessive pins 108 along its path of travelfand' will be rotated clockwise thereby, as 'iewed in Fig. 10, which will cause the pawl 106 to rotate the ratchet wheel 96 one step or tooth every time that the pawl arm encounters one iently supported from the tracks in the manner indicated, and a sufficient number of them are provided along the length of the track, in. any given group of stations, to effect a rotation of the spindle 90 a suflicient amount to move it down one step or thread. Thus, a similar action is attained by a mechanism quite different frnm that shown in Fig. 6. An arm 42 adapted to coaot with an arm 46 upon the shaft 8 may be provided in the modified construction as in the former case; and this arm 42 maybe similarly controlled by a dog 85, having an extension or wing 36, as before. In Fig. 8, in order to showthe spring 107, a portion of the-end of this wing 36 has been broken away. Also, the'frame will be provided with a pin 84 corresponding to the pin 34above referred to, which pin 34 is correspondingly adapted for engagement with the dog 35.

In Fig. 8, for convenience of illustration, the finger 13 and its associated parts have been omitted; and of course this omission may also occur in'practice. In such case the system will not be a fully intercommunieating one, if more than one station be provided per group, and articles will normally only be despatched from the central station shown in Fig. 8, to any desired number of stations; unless, if therebe more than one station to a group, one is contented to despatch from any given out-station, such for example as station A in one of the groups, to any other station A, in one of the other groups; and correspondingly from any station B to any other station E, etc. In this latter case, while the central station will have a full complement of cams 64, 65, etc. the sub-stations or out-stations will obviously each have but one track cam per station,

since otherwise as soon as the arms 42 and 46 of any given carrier werebrought into registration, said carrier would deposit its load at the very next station that it encountered thereafter and said load, more often than not, if three or more stations per group be used, would not even deposit in the pan 54 at such next'station but would drop upon the floor. The form of. carrier exemplified in Fig. 8 is, however, especially well adapted to serve a very large number of stations and this even with as low a number of stations per group as one or two.

In conclusion I particularly desire to call attention to the advantage of providing upon the carriers the adjustable mechanisms the parts of which when once set with respect to each other are thereafter causer to change their relationship with respect to each other while the carrier 'is en route toward the station at which its load is to be delivered, this change being somewhat preferably made-step by step; since such mechanisms as thosegiven by way of exemplification, or the equivalents thereof, permit of such a material reduction in the number of operating parts in systems in which served. Thus in the first described apparatus, which happens to be of the cam operated pick-up type, while fifteen stations are shown, but five varieties of track cams need be employed. Thus there are five series of stations each of which series are composed of'like stations, or in other words stations at which the unloading. track cams are of the same variety, while by. means of the adjustable mechanism on each carrier, any given carrier is caused to distinguish between the three stations in the series corresponding to such carrier and to unload only at'the properstation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having stations therealong with carriers to travel on said. track, means to propel said carriers, and actuating and a considerable number of stations are to be controlling means, coacting with said carriers and propelling means, to automatically pick-up an article at any given station and unload said article at a predetermined one of a plurality of stations, said plurality of stations being disposed in groups and each of said stations having thereat at least one loading point having means to support an article to be despatched from said loading point, each of said loading points corresponding to one of said unloading stations in at least one of said groups of stations, said pick-up actuating and controlling means comprising elements adjacent said loading points for loading carriers while the latter are passing said points and also means, independent of the load on a carrier, for preventing said elements from disturbing a load already in place upon a given carrier when such loaded carrier is passing said elements until said loaded carrier arrives at the group in which is the predetermined one of said stations at which said loaded carrier is to be unloaded said controlling means including load-controlled provisions for then permitting said carrier to be unloaded at a predetermined one of said stations.

2. In a pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having stations therealong with carriers to travel on said track, means to propel said carriers, and actuating and controlling means, coacting with said carriers and propelling means, to automatically pick-up an article at any given station and unload said article at a predetermined one of a plurality of stations said plurality of stations being disposed in groups, and each of said stations having thereat at least one loading point having means to support an article to be despatched from said loading point, each of said loading points corresponding to one of said unloading stations in at least one of said groups of stations, said pick-up actuating and controlling means comprising elements adjacent said loading points for loading carriers while the latter are passing said points and also means preventing said elements from disturbing a load already in place upon a given carrier,

when such loaded carrier is passing said elements until said loaded carrier arrives at the group in which is the predetermined one of said stations at which said loaded carrier is to be unloaded and then permitting said carrier to be unloaded at a predetermined one of said stations, said actuating and controlling means further comprising group determining devices on said carriers and means for setting said devices.

3. In a pick-up and delivery systemfor messages, parcels and the like, the combina-.

tion of a track having a plurality of stations therealong, arranged 1n groups, With carriers to travel on said track, each of-said carriers having a pick-up element movably mounted thereon for substantially vertical movement to pick up articles to be con veyed, means to propel said carriers, and ac tuating and controlling means to control said pick-up elements and only adapted to co-act therewith to automatically load an empty carrier, as the latter passes any given station and to thereafter unload said carrier at a determined point along said track, said system having provisions, independent of the weight of any load, to positively prevent the emplacement of a load upon an already loaded carrier and to prevent the discharge of a loaded carrier at a station in any other than a predetermined one of said groups.

4. In a pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having a plurality of (files patching stations and at least one receiving station, carriers each having a pick-up jaw movably mounted thereon and a jaw to coact with that aforesaid to grasp an article between said jaws, means to propel said carriers along said track, and actuating cams at said despatching stations to cause said pick-up jaws to pick up articles, each of said carriers having a connection normally operatively disposed to transmit the action of said cams as the latter are encountered by a carrier to be loaded by one of said cams, means acting independently of the load to inoperatively dispose said connection upon said carrier, whereby to prevent a cam at a despatchin station along the line of travel of an already loaded carrier en route to said receiving station, from disturbing the load upon said carrier, and means, including a device to operatively reset said connection and a cam at said re ceiving station to co-act with said connection when thus reset, to unload its carrier.

5. In a pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having a plurality of despatching stations and at least one receiving station, carriers each having a pick-up element movably mounted thereon, means to propel said carriers along said track, and

actuating means to control said pick-up elements and only adapted to co-act therewith to automatically load an empty carrier, as the latter passes any given station and to thereafter unload said carrier at a deter-.

rality of stations toward another of said Cir stations, means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means having a part the setting of which in any one of a plurality of positions predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means, when loaded, shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and means including purely mechanical instrumentalities for changing the settingof sa d part of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carry ng means, to thereafter permit said carrylng means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed,

by the unloading means at said second mentioned station.

7. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means having a part the setting of which in any one of a plurality of positions predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means, when loaded, shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unload ng of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and means including a device for mechanically changing the setting of said part of said adjustable means step by step while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to permit, after a determined number of said steps, the unloading of said carrying means by the unloading means at said second mentioned station.

8. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, cam acting means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means, while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed,

by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

9. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, cam acting means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, said. adjustable means be ing mounted upon and movable with said carrying means, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unload ing means at said second mentioned station.

10. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and purely mechanical instrumentalities for changing the setting of said adjustable means step by step while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

11. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, cam acting means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, said adjustable means being mounted upon and movable with said carrying means, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and means, in-

cluding a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means step by step while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

12. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, track cams at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said track cams and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said track cams at the stations passed, means to set said adjustable means, and means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by a track cam at said second mentioned station.

13. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises article-grasping means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, cams at the stations for opening said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said cams and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said cams at the stations passed, means to automatically set said adjustable means, and means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by a cam at said second mentioned station.

14. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means,

said carrying means is being loaded, and

means, including a device for. changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

15. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, cams to automatically load said carrying means and set said adjustable means, and means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means While said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said ,carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed,

by said unloading means at said second mentioned station. Y j 16. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, mechanical means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, mechanical means to automatically load said carrying means, mechanical means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, and mechanical means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

17 The system for conveying and automatcially delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, mechanical means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means atthe stations passed, means movable from a normal position, to set said adjustable means, means to mechanically restore said last mentioned means to its normal position, and purely mechanical means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

18. The system for conveying and automatically delivering messages, parcels and the like which comprises means for carrying articles despatched from one of a plurality of stations toward another of said stations, means at the stations for unloading said carrying means, adjustable means the setting of which predetermines the number of said unloading means and stations which said carrying means when loaded shall pass while retaining the load in place thereon, means, controlled by said adjustable means, to prevent the unloading of said carrying means by said unloading means at the stations passed, cam acting means, movable from a normal position, to set said adjustable means, means, carried by said carrying means, to restore said last mentioned means to its normal position, and means, including a device for changing the setting of said adjustable means while said load is being conveyed by said carrying means, to thereafter permit said carrying means to be unloaded, after said predetermined number of stations has been passed, by said unloading means at said second mentioned station.

19. In a pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having a plurality of stations therealong, carriers each having a load-supporting part movable with its carrier along said track, and, further, separately movable with respect to said track, devices carried by said parts of said carriers for determining the point at which said carriers are to unload, means for setting said devices to determine the unloading point of a given carrier, said setting means being operable to set said device of said given carrier only when said load-supporting part of said carrier has been moved separately with respect to said track, as aforesaid, and

means to separately move said part with respect to said track.

20. In a pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels'and the like, the combination of a track having a plurality of stations therealong, carriers, each having a part movable with its carrier, along said track, and, further, separately movable with respect to said track, devices carried by said parts of said carriers for determining the point at which said carriers are to unload,

means for setting said devices to determine the unloading point of a given carrier, said setting means being operable to set said device of said given carrier only when said part of said carrier has been moved separately with respect to said track, as aforesaid, and means to separately move said part with respect to said track.

21. In a pick up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having a plurality of stations therealcng, carriers, each having a part movable with its carrier, along sail track, and, further, separately movable with respect to said track, devices carried by said parts of said carriers for determining the point at which said carriers are to unload, means for setting said devices to determine the unloading point of a given carrier, said setting means being operable to set said device of said given carrier only when said part of said carrier has been moved separately with respect to said track, as aforesaid, means to separately 'move said part with respect to said track, and means to ren der said setting means inoperative after it has set the said device of a given carrier.

22. A conveying and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, comprising means to carry articles from one to another of a plurality of stations sequentially disposed in groups along the common path of travel of said articles, means to determine the group in which is to be the station at which a part of said article carrying means is to be unloaded, means to determine the station in said group at which said unloading is to take place, and means, controlled the group in which is to be the station at l which a part of said article carrying means is to be unloaded, means to determine the station in said group at which said unloading is to take place, means to load said carrying means, and means controlled both by said group determining and station determining means, for automatically unloading said carrying means at said last mentioned station.

24. A conveying and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, comprising means to carry articles from one to another of a plurality of stations disposed in groups the stations constituting one of which are in series with the stations of the succeeding group, means to determine the group in which is to be the station at which a part of said article carrying means is to be unloaded, means to determine the station in said group at which said unloading is to take place, means to automatically load said carrying means, and means controlled both by said group determining and station determining means, for automatically unloading said carrying means at said last mentioned station, an article being carried successively past the stations in one group along its path of travel and thereafter past succeeding stations until it arrives at said last mentioned station.

25. A conveying and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, comprising continuously moving means to carry articles from one to another of a plurality of stations disposed in groups, all of said stations being directly in series, means to deter mine the group in which is to be the station at which a part of said article carrying means is to be unloaded, means to determine the station in said group at which said unloading is to take place, one of said two last mentioned means being carried by said continuously moving carrying means, means to set said means which is so carried by said carrying means While it is traveling along with said carrying means, and means controlled by both said group determining and station determining means, for automatically unloading said carrying means at said last mentioned station.

26. A conveying and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, comprising a track, carriers to travel along said track, stations along said track, cams at said stations to co-act with parts of said carriers, to unload the latter, certain of said stations having unloading cams, the operative faces of which are substantially identical, for unloading the same carriers at any one of said certain stations, and adjustable means, carried by said carriers, for determining at which one of said certain stations a given carrier shall unload.

27. A collecting and delivery system comprising a track, stations along said track, a carrier to travel along said track and provided with an article collecting element movably mounted with respect to other parts of said carrier, mechanisms for loading and unloading said carrier, said mechanisms bemg adapted to co-act with said element and having parts thereof at each of said stations from which loads are to be despatched or at which said loads are to be delivered, said mechanisms each comprising a cam of a determinate variety and said varieties of said cams being limited to a determined number, the number of said stations at which loads are to be delivered exceeding the number of said varieties of cams, and means to co-act with one of said mechanisms to unload said carrier only at a predetermined one of the stations last aforesaid.

28. A collecting and delivery system comprising a track, stations along said track, a carrier to travel along said track and provided with a load supporting element movably mounted with respect to other parts of said carrier, mechanisms for unloading said carrier and adapted to .co-act with said element, said mechanisms having parts thereof at each of said stations at which loads are tobe delivered and each comprising a cam of a determined variety, said varieties of said cams being limited to a determined number, the number of said stations at which leads are to be delivered exceeding the number of said varieties of cams, and means to co-act with one of said mechanisms to unload said carrier only at a predetgrmined one of said stations last aforesa1 I 29. A collecting and delivery system comprising a track, stations along said track, a carrier to travel along said track and provided with a load supporting element movably mounted with respect to other parts of said carrier, mechanism for unloading said carrier and adapted to co-act with said element, said mechanisms having parts thereof at each of said stations at which loads are to be delivered and each comprising a cam of a determined variety, said varieties of said cams being limited to a determined number, the number of said stations at Which loads are to be delivered exceeding the number of said varieties of cams, adjustable means to co-act with one of said mechanisms to unload said carrier' only at a predetermined one of said stations last aforesaid and means to set said adjustable means.

30. A collecting and delivery system comprising a track, stations along said track, a carrier to travel along said track and provided with a load supporting element movably mounted with respect to other parts of said carrier, mechanisms for unloading said carrier and adapted to 00-2101: with said element, said mechanisms having parts thereof at each of said stations at which loads are to be delivered and each comprising a cam of a determined variety, said varieties of said cams being limitedv to a determined number, the number of said stations at which loads are to be delivered exceeding the number of said varieties of cams, adjustable means to co-act with one of said mechanisms to unload said carrier only at a predetermined one of said stations last aforesaid and means to automatically set said adjustable means.

31. A collecting and delivery system comprising a track, stations along said track, a carrier to travel along said track and provided with an article collecting element movably mounted with respect to other parts of said carrier, mechanisms for loading and unloading said carrier, said mechanisms being adapted to co-act with said element and having parts thereof at each of said stations from which loads are to be despatched or at which said loads are to be delivered, said mechanisms each comprising a cam of a determined variety and saidvarieties of said cams being limited to a determined number, the number of said stations at which loads are to be delivered exceeding the number of said varieties of cams, adjustable means to co-act with one of said mechanisms to unload said carrier only at a predetermined one of the stations last aforesaid, and means co-acting with said element to automatically load said carrier.

32. A collecting and delivery system comprising a track, stations along said track, a carrier to travel along said track and provided with an article collecting element movably mounted with respect to other parts of said carrier, mechanisms forloading and unloading said carrier, said mechanisms being adapted to co-act with said element and having parts thereof at each of said stations from which loads are tobe despatched or at which said loads are to be delivered, said mechanisms each comprising a cam of a determined variety and said varieties of said cams being limited to a determined number, the number of said stations at Which loads are to be delivered exceeding the number of said. varieties of cams, adjustable means to co-act with one of said mechanisms to unload said carrier only at a predetermined one of the stations last aforesaid, and means co-acting with said element'to automatically load said carrier and set the adjustable means thereof.

33. A delivery system comprising a plurality of series of stations, the stations of one series being alike to each other but being different from the stations in another series, a track extending past said stations, a series of carriers to travel along said track, each of said carriers in said series of the same being adapted to deliver its load, if loaded, to one or another of the like stations in a given series of the latter, means to insure the delivery of a load from any given one of said series of carriers to a determined one of the like stations in one of the series of stations, and means to predetermine to which particular one of the like stations last aforesaid said carrier shall. deliver its lead.

34. A collecting and delivery system comprising a plurality of series of stations, the stations of one series being alike to each other but being different from the stations in another series, a track extending past said stations, a series ofcarriers to travel along said track, each of said carriers in said series of the same being adapted to deliver its load, it loaded, to one or another of the like stations in a given series of the latter, mean to load said carriers, means to insure the delivery of a load from any given one of said series of carriers to a determined one of the like stations in one of the series of stations, and means to predetermine to which particular one of the like stations last aforesaid said carrier shall deliver its road.

35. A collecting and delivery system comprising a plurality of series of stations, the stations of one series being alike to each other but being different from the stations in another series, a track extending past said stations, a series of carriers to travel along said track, each of said carriers in said series of the same being adapted to deliver its load, if loaded, to one or another of the like stations in a given series of the latter, means to automatically load said carriers, means to insure the delivery of a load from any given one of said series of carriers to a determined one of the like stations in one of the series of stations, and means to predetermine to which particular one of the like stations last aforesaid said carrier shall deliver its load.

36. A collecting and delivery system comprising a plurality of series of stations, the stations of one series being alike to each other but being different from the stations in another series, a track extending past said stations, a series of carriers to travel along said track, each of said carriers in said series of the same being adapted to deliver its load, it loaded, to one or another of the like stations in a given series of the latter, meansto automatically despatch a load upon one of said series of carriers from any one of said stations, means to insure the delivery of a load from any given one of said series of carriers to a determined one of the like stations in one of the series of stations, and means to predetermine to which. particular one of the like stations last aforesaid said carrier shall deliver its load.

37. A conveying and delivery system comprising a track, carriers provided with load releasing parts. and adapted to travel along said track, one of said parts on each of said carriers being movable into any one of a plurality of positions, means to move said parts into said positions, means to coact with said load releasing parts to retain loads upon said carriers when said parts are disposed in one of said positions, means carried by said carriers to determine the points along said track at which they are to be unloaded, and means, operative when said part of one of said carriers occupies another of said positions, for setting the unloading-point-determining means of said carrier.

38. A pick-up and delivery system comprising a track, carriers provided with pickup parts and adapted to travel along said track, one of said parts on each of said carriers being movable into any one of a plurality of positions, means to move said parts into said positions, means to load said carriers when said parts are moved from one of said positions into another of the same, means carried by said carriers to determine the points along said track at which they are to be unloaded, and means, operative when said part of one of said carriers occupies a third of said positions, for setting the unloading-point-determining means of said carrier.

39. A conveying system for messages, parcels and the like which comprises a substantially horizontal track, a plurality of stations along said track arranged in groups of one or more, a carrier to travel along said track and adapted to be unloaded at but a given one of said stations in each group, cam acting means to mechanically unload said carrier as aforesaid while said carrier is traveling along said horizontal track, and adjustable means to determine within which group said carrier is to unload and adapted to prevent a premature unloading of said carrier.

40. A conveying system for messages, parcels and the like which'comprises a substantially horizontal track, a plurality of stations along said track arranged in groups of one or more, a carrier to travel along said track and adapted to be unloaded, While traveling horizontally, at but a given one of said stations in each group, means to unload said carrier as aforesaid, adjustable means, mounted to travel along with said carrier, to determine within which group said carrier is to unload and adapted to prevent a premature unloading of said carrier, and means to automatically load said carrier while it is traveling horizontally and set said adjustable means to determine the station at which it is to be unloaded.

all. A conveying system for messages, parcels and the like which comprises a substantially horizontal track, a plurality of stations along said track arranged in groups of one or more, a carrier to travel along said track and-adapted to be unloaded at but a given one of said stations in each group, means to unload said carrier as aforesaid while it is traveling horizontally, ajustable means, mounted to travel along with said carrier, to determine within which group said carrier is to unload and adapted to prevent a premature unloading of said carrier, means to automatically load said carrier and set said adjustable means to determine the station at which it is to be unloaded While said carrier is traveling horizontally, and means to move said adjustable means to its inoperative postion after it has performed its function.

42. In a despatch system, the combination of a track having a plurality of series of stations therealong, the stations of one series being alike to each other but being different from the stations in another series, means to propel said carriers, and actuating means co-acting with said carriers to automatically load an article at any given station and unload said article at a predetermined other cne of said stations, each of said stations, from which loads may be despatched, having load. supporting parts,v

which if an article be emplaced thereat in any one of a plurality of determined positions each of which latter corresponds respectively to one of said series of stations, will co-act with at least a corresponding one of said carriers to the end that said article will be loaded upon said corresponding carrier and conveyed thereby past the stations in said corresponding series of stations until it reaches a predetermined one of said last mentioned stations, said actuating means having elements thereof disposed at each of said despatching stations and normally adapted to load upon a passing carrier any article which may be placed in one of said determined positions corresponding to said carrier but unadapted to co-act With said passing carrier if the latter be already loaded, each of said carriers having means to render ineffective the said. loading elements at stations which it passes While enroute to a station beyond, said last mentioned means being operatively disposed when said carrier is loaded, each of said stations in said series corresponding to said carrier having means to render nugatory the action of said last mentioned means, if operative, as said stations in said series are successively passed, and each of said carriers further having means to still prevent said actuating means at said series of stations from becoming effective until the station in said series immediately preceding said predetermined station, is passed.

43. In an inter-communicating pick-up and delivery system for messages, parcels and the like, the combination of a track having a plurality of stations from which articles may be despatched and to which articles may be delivered, said stations being disposed in groups, graduated carriers each having a movable load-supporting part, a series of supports at each station adapted to present articles to be despatched to passing carriers, a series of actuating parts at each station, each actuating part corresponding to a support at said station, each actuating part at each station being graduated to selectively actuate the load-supporting parts of certain of said carriers, an unloading part at each station graduated to correspond with only certain of said carriers, -means, carried by said carriers and adapted to be pressed out of operative position by a load thereon, to enable an actuating part at any station to normally load a corresponding carrier from the corresponding support at such station only when said carrier is empty, means at each station to enable the unloading part at said station to actuate the load-supporting part of a carrier whose graduation corresponds to said unloading part, and means to prevent the actuation of said load supporting part, last aforesaid, except when said carrier is within the confines of the group in which is the station to which its load is to be delivered.

44. A pick-up system having carriers each provided with a movable jaw and an operating part therefor, a track upon which said carriers ride, means to propel said carriers along said track, stations along said track, means at said stations for actuating said operating parts of said carriers, adjustable means, movable with the jaw of each of said carriers, for rendering idle a movement of the operating part of the carrier jaw, discharge-station-determining means adapted to set said adjustable means to cause it to become operative, and means to change the setting of said adjustable means thereafter while the carrier is in motion and before it reaches the station determined by the disposition of said setting means, to permit said operating part to again become efiective.

45. In conveying and delivery apparatus for messages, parcels and the like, a track, a carrier to travel along said track, stations along the track, an adjustable mechanism mounted for movement together with said carrier, said mechanism having parts the setting of which with respect to each other determines the station at which said carrier is to unload, strictly mechanical means to successively change the relationship of said parts with respect to each other while said carrier is en route to the station for which its load is destined, means, comprising a train of elements through which an actuation of one of said elements may be mechanically transmitted through said train to another of the same to unload said carrier, and means to control the con tinuity of said train of elements by said adjustable mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. HIDDEN. lVitnesses E. M. JORDAN, D. L. BENNETT,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

